A History of The Folksbiene
In polish oyf der keyt
by I.L. Peretz
1946-1947 season
Malin Studios
137 West 44th Street
New York, New York
On January 11, 1947, at the Malin
Studio, there was staged In polish oyf der keyt (Detained in
the Synagogue Ante Room), a dramatized
poem in three acts by I.L. Peretz, adapted and directed by David
Licht, music by Herman Belinsky, sets by H.A. Condell, dance by
Julia Levin.
For this production, under the
editorship of Zalmen Zylbercweig and Jacob Mestel, there was
published the eleventh issue of the Teater-heftn (Theatre
Notebooks), which was dedicated to the history of the
Folksbiene up to 1946, with articles by N. Chanin, David Licht
and Boris Levin.
On December 13, 1947, as a
farewell evening for David Licht, there was staged Peretz's "In
polish oyf der keyt," in which David Licht played the role of
"The Sinner." |
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Scene from
"In Polish Oyf Der Keyt"
from the "Lexicon of the Yiddish
Theatre."
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Photo from the Ivan Busatt Studio.
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The Cast of Characters: |
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The Synopsis: |
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ACT I
In the Anteroom of the Synagogue - At Noon
It is the wedding day of the daughter of the richest
merchant in town. A poor scholar publicly declares that
he is the true groom of the bride-to-be and swears that
she will never plight her troth to another. All the
townsfolk are in a turmoil and feelings run high.
Because of this, the offended groom's parents wish to
forego the marriage and return home with their son, the
groom. All elements of the town, merchants and paupers,
assemble in the anteroom of the Synagogue and await the
outcome with great impatience and anxiety. The Rabbi,
in great anger, accuses the scholar of having dishonored
the bride-to-be. The scholar however, holds fast to his
declaration. The bride herself enters and belies the
scholar's words, declaring that she has never had any
feelings towards him other than those of compassion and
pity for him and his poverty. The scholar,
realizing that she does not wish to humiliate her
parents by publicly acknowledging her disgrace, assumes
complete responsibility. The bride is led away to the
marriage ceremony. As a punishment, the Rabbi orders
the "offender," the scholar, to be chained to a post in
the anteroom of the Synagogue, there to remain until the
following morning.
ACT II
Anteroom -- Evening
Now only the poor remain in the ante-room. They have
not been invited to participate in the sumptuous wedding
feast. They recall all the injustices that the bride's
wealthy father has committed against them, and express
sympathy for the poor scholar. The sexton enters with
drinks for them, sent by Reb Brachieh. The bride's
father, from the wedding feast. The paupers, in anger,
reject the drinks and attempt to break the chains and
free the scholar. He refuses to be freed. Then his
fellow-students attempt to release him, but he rejects
them as well. An erring woman brings him food, but he
refuses to accept it . . . The bride herself enters,
declaring that she has fled from her husband after the
ceremony, |
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and begs forgiveness of the scholar for having denied
him. He recoils from her touch and asks to be left alone.
The students surround her, and after a fantastic macabre dance which
is interrupted only by the call to midnight prayer, she flees . . .
The Rabbi, on his way to the Synagogue, enters and seeing the
exhausted and faint "Offender," assure him that he, the Rabbi, will
pray for him and his sinful soul.
ACT
III
Midnight
The gay pauper is relating an anecdote of the "Baal-Shem
Tov -- founder of the Chasidic movement, of whom many
tales are told of his "miracles" and pithy sayings. His
story is interrupted by the hurried and excited arrival
of the bride's parents in search of their daughter who
has fled her husband's home. Again the erring woman
enters, this time, begging the scholar for permission to
release him from his chains. Again he refuses . . .
The paupers, wanting to forget their misery and bitter
lot, engage in a merry dance, which is interrupted by
the sudden appearance of the "insane man," who brings
this sad news that the bride has been found drowned.
The "Offender" then calls upon the paupers to
free him. They tear off the chains, and together with the
scholar, march into the street, -- out of the anteroom
-- through the night -- into the day -- away from the
chains . . .
--- JOSEPH KASTOR |
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